In autumn, we say goodbye to the beach, to fresher foods and colder drinks, giving way to warmer and more comforting foods. The holidays are over and we are back to the routine. There are things you can do to feel better and take loving care of yourself this fall. For example, including certain foods in your regular diet and trying this pumpkin cream recipe for autumn.
Autumn diet to feel good
Avoid excito toxins. There are substances and foods that drain your energy and negatively affect your brain, they are called excitotoxins. They are elements that excite the central nervous system, giving a feeling of excitement, but then produce a great drop and thus a feeling of nervousness, negatively affecting our mood. These substances include sugar and all artificial sweeteners, flavors and colors.
So, my advice is that if you want to feel full of energy and vitality at any time of the year, avoid these substances as much as possible.
Alkaline tips
During cooking we can add 5 drops of PuripHy to the water as it will intensify the flavor of the vegetables and better preserve their bright colors.
Start your morning with a large glass of water and a small spoon of pHour Salts, mineral salts that will give you a lot of energy throughout the day.
Eat foods rich in tryptophan, a precursor to good mood
On the other hand, other foods considered healthy and alkalizing not only have benefits for our health in general, but also have a direct impact on our mood and good mood. For example, they give us energy and thanks to their high levels of tryptophan, they help us increase the levels of serotonin (a neurotransmitter that produces well-being) and endorphins (the famous hormones of happiness).
This happens, according to Dr. Muñoz, because “the nervous system uses chemical substances to communicate with each other called neurotransmitters, which are created and synthesized through what we eat, such as serotonin, whose precursor is the tryptophan.”
Therefore, it would be advisable to increase during this time of year the consumption of serotonergic foods, which will not only help us to be in a better mood, but will also give us a feeling of greater well-being and harmony in general.
What foods are rich in tryptophan?
Legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds. Vegetables and vegetables in general. Seasonal green leafy vegetables should be highlighted for their high content of tryptophan and magnesium (they will help us sleep better). It is important to highlight the bananas, avocado and our wonderful pumpkin.
Pumpkin cream for autumn
Pumpkin is one of those exceptional alkalizing foods due to its high digestibility and delicious flavor. It is full of very beneficial substances for our health, making it ideal for this time of year, autumn and winter.
Pumpkins, especially fall and winter varieties, provide essential vitamins and minerals with few calories. They contain beta-carotene or pro vitamin A, vitamin C and E (great antioxidants). They provide lycopene like tomatoes and several B vitamins (B2, B6 and folic acid). In addition, it contains valuable minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and zinc.
As if that were not enough, pumpkin is also rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that, together with vitamin B6, is necessary to produce serotonin in our brain. And serotonin is the best defense against depression and anxiety, helping us to be in a good mood.
So as you can see, pumpkin is an antioxidant food par excellence that can help us keep our mind awake, improve our memory and mental agility. Pumpkin, thanks to its nutritional composition, can be eaten by everyone, making it highly advisable during childhood, pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Here I leave you my favorite recipe for pumpkin cream with fig pieces. A very simple recipe that will not take you more than half an hour to prepare, you will see that you are going to love it:
Ingredients
- 400 g of pumpkin
- 2 carrots
- 1 peeled potato
- 400 ml of vegetable milk (use whatever you want, I like oat milk the best)
- 1 onion
- Extra virgin olive oil.
- Salt, pepper and ground cumin.
- Water
- 1 fresh fig
Preparing your pumpkin cream for autumn
- Cut the vegetables into not very large pieces. Cut the onion into smaller pieces.
- Heat a pot (ideally stainless steel) with a few drops of oil and lightly sauté the onion. When the onion is already golden, add the rest of the vegetables and add about 2 or 3 fingers of water, preferably not from the tap since its chlorine content can alter its flavor in addition to adding toxicity.
- We add salt to taste and a splash of olive oil.
- Cover and bring to a boil. We let it cook over low heat for 15 minutes.
- We turn off the heat and add pepper and cumin.
- We blend everything with the hand blender and once blended we add the vegetable milk depending on whether we want it to be more or less thick.
- We serve the cream in a deep plate or a bowl. We cut a fig into not very small pieces and add it as a topping.
